Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu met Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote on Saturday in Dar es Salaam. The talks followed reports that Dangote now prefers to build a large oil refinery in Kenya instead of Tanzania. Suluhu noted Dangote's ongoing cement investments in the Mtwara region.
Suluhu described the meeting as productive and stressed that Dangote remains an important investor. His cement factory in Mtwara continues to support local employment and trade, she said in a statement.
Dangote had earlier considered a site in Tanga, Tanzania, for the project. He told the Financial Times on May 10 that he now leans toward Mombasa because of its larger and deeper port facilities.
The proposed refinery could process up to 650,000 barrels per day and cost between Ksh1.95 trillion and Ksh2.21 trillion. Kenya's President William Ruto first announced the joint plan last month at a summit in Nairobi.
The facility would aim to reduce East Africa's reliance on imported refined fuel if completed.
